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Heartland harps came easily to mind. I think that the best option for you would be the curved harps as I’m a man and I don’t have breasts I didn’t know what to do with the extra room I have experienced with a curved harp so I have stayed with the straight back.
But Heartland Harps are the best option for lightweight built harps.
Music Maker harps in Stillwater MN +1800-432-5487 does have a carbon fiber filling option that makes them much lighter and you get to the beauty of the wood, but do they don’t do curved harps.I tell them I made my first lever harp from a kit. Actually it’s 32 years old and I loved hearing it becoming an instrument. My second harp was made by my father from a kit with a little help from me. My third harp was a wire harp made from a kit. My fourth harp was a custom built from Steve Green.
I don’t like to give them an actual price in case they have ulterior motives but I don’t want to be snobby or off putting either. The value of an instrument is what the owner gives it. And I wouldn’t part with mine for any price in the world
I just taught my 10yo student to tune her 34 string Voyager lever harp.
I start with the 3rd A and tune down the scale because she’s in orchestra. This harp has nylon strings and metal in the bass so I’m not to worried about wear and tear on the strings.
I use the Pano tuner app on my phone it shows a nice segment of green when the string is in tune.
I have the student practice tuning in my presence. It usually takes up to 30 minutes sometimes more. With follow ups in ensuing lessons.
The Voyager is a tall Instrument for a ten year old And the metal string tuning pins are difficult to turn, so I teach the parents as well.
The Pano tuner app uses flats instead of sharps as the semitone. That may be confusing to new students.
I try to save the theory for more advanced students because students are so easily confused in the beginning. There’s so much that is new that it’s easier if you just go with the basics.
Children and adults are alike in this respect. Adult learner’s want to do it all right now!!! But they are easily frustrated if you throw too much at them. So you have to pace them for their own good.
It’s better to tune their harps for them until they ask to be taught. It’s usually within the first few weeks of lessons.
An important 1st lesson to learn is if the note doesn’t change you’re probably on the wrong tuning pin. Also teach them to go flat and then raise the pitch to prevent broken strings(especially if they are on the wrong tuning pin.
That’s my 2 cents.
